''Franz Schubert'' (original German title: ''Franz Schubert – Ein Leben in zwei Sätzen'') is a 1953 Austrian film depicting composer

Franz Schubert Franz Peter Schubert (; ; 31 January 179719 November 1828) was an Austrian composer of the late Classical period (music), Classical and early Romantic music, Romantic eras. Despite his short life, Schubert left behind a List of compositions ...

's life and work.Mitchell, Charles P.. ''The Great Composers Portrayed on Film, 1913 Through 2002''. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2015. It was shot at the

Rosenhügel Studios The Rosenhügel Studios are film studios located in the Austrian capital Vienna. They were opened in 1923 and originally owned by the Vita-Film production company. After the company's bankruptcy the following year the studios were taken over by ...

Vienna Vienna ( ; ; ) is the capital city, capital, List of largest cities in Austria, most populous city, and one of Federal states of Austria, nine federal states of Austria. It is Austria's primate city, with just over two million inhabitants. ...

with sets designed by the

art director Art director is a title for a variety of similar job functions in theater, advertising, marketing, publishing, fashion, live-action and animated film and television, the Internet, and video games. It is the charge of a sole art director to supe ...

Leo Metzenbauer Leo Metzenbauer (15 January 1910 – 10 April 1993) was an Austrian art director.Kaul p.28 Selected filmography * '' Daughter of the Regiment'' (1953) * ''The Schimeck Family'' (1957) * ''The Forests Sing Forever'' (1959) * '' Gustav Adolf's P ...

Plot

Franz Schubert works as an assistant teacher in the school led by his father. In his spare time, however, the young man, who considers

Ludwig van Beethoven Ludwig van Beethoven (baptised 17 December 177026 March 1827) was a German composer and pianist. He is one of the most revered figures in the history of Western music; his works rank among the most performed of the classical music repertoire ...

to be his unattainable role model, devotes himself to writing music. As public acceptance is denied to him, his friends lobby the music publisher

Anton Diabelli Anton (or Antonio) Diabelli (5 September 17818 April 1858) was an Austrian music publisher, editor and composer. Best known in his time as a publisher, he is most familiar today as the composer of the waltz on which Ludwig van Beethoven wrote ...

for a public performance of Schubert's music. During a reception, at which Schubert performs his ''

Ave Maria The Hail Mary or Ave Maria (from its first words in Latin), also known as the Angelic or Angelical Salutation, is a traditional Catholic prayer addressing Mary, mother of Jesus, Mary, the mother of Jesus. The prayer is based on two biblical pa ...

'', he gets to know singer Therese Grob. Schubert decides to quit the employment at his father's and, instead, to concentrate entirely on music, and moves in his with friends, poets Franz von Schober and

Moritz von Schwind image:Moritz von Schwind 2.jpg, 200px, Moritz von Schwind, c. 1860. Moritz von Schwind (21 January 1804 – 8 February 1871) was an Austrian painter, born in Vienna. Schwind's genius was lyrical—he drew inspiration from chivalry, folklore, and t ...

and painter Johann Mayerhofer. There, he is inspired to set

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Johann Wolfgang (von) Goethe (28 August 1749 – 22 March 1832) was a German polymath who is widely regarded as the most influential writer in the German language. His work has had a wide-ranging influence on Western literature, literary, Polit ...

s ballad ''

Der Erlkönig Der or DER may refer to: Places * Darkənd, Azerbaijan * Dearborn (Amtrak station) (station code), in Michigan, US * Der (Sumer), an ancient city located in modern-day Iraq * d'Entrecasteaux Ridge, an oceanic ridge in the south-west Pacific Ocean ...

'' to music. Schubert's friends encourage him to play his music in public. Schubert and Therese, who sings his songs, are made one. The two make a living by performing Schuberts songs. However, Schubert becomes doubtful about songs being the most suitable channel for his musical vision, and so decides to turn to writing symphonies and operas. As Schubert applies for the position of a Vice Director of Music, Therese hands over to the Secretary of the Court Theatre Schuberts latest work, the ''

Unfinished Symphony An unfinished symphony is a fragment of a symphony that is left incomplete. The reason as of why and the state of the sketches themselves can vary considerably. The death of the composer is the most common cause for a symphony to be left unfi ...

''. Disagreements arise during the rehearsals for Schubert's latest opera, as the singer of the leading part considers the music too difficult to sing. Music publishers

Tobias Haslinger Tobias Haslinger (1 March 1787 - 18 June 1842) was an Austrian composer and music publisher. He published works by composers including, among others, Beethoven, Bendel, Mozart, Schubert Franz Peter Schubert (; ; 31 January 179719 November ...

and

reject his music. Even his very promising application as a Vice Director of Music proves to be unsuccessful. Thus, depressed Schubert decides to tour his songs in order to make a living. In this period of time, he writes the ''

Winterreise ''Winterreise'' (, ''Winter Journey'') is a song cycle for voice and piano by Franz Schubert (Schubert Thematic Catalogue, D. 911, published as Opus number, Op. 89 in 1828), a setting of 24 Poetry, poems by German poet Wilhelm Müller. It is the ...

''. After having returned, Schubert decides to have lessons in

counterpoint In music theory, counterpoint is the relationship of two or more simultaneous musical lines (also called voices) that are harmonically dependent on each other, yet independent in rhythm and melodic contour. The term originates from the Latin ...

with Beethoven, but shies away from contacting his idol. Shortly later, while being plagued by health problems, Schubert gets a visit from Beethoven's secretary

Anton Schindler Anton Felix Schindler (13 June 1795 – 16 January 1864) was an Austrian law clerk and associate, secretary, and early biographer of Ludwig van Beethoven. Life Schindler was born on 13 June 1795 in Medlov. He moved to Vienna in 1813 to study l ...

. Sickly Beethoven sends some Goethe poems to Schubert to be set in music, as Beethoven regards Schubert to be the better song composer. As Schubert wants to visit Beethoven, he arrives too late: Beethoven has died. Schubert is one of the torchbearers during Beethoven's funeral. Suffering from more and more serious health problems, Schubert is no longer able to perceive the success of a public performance of his music. He dies one year after his idol.

Cast

Heinrich Schweiger Heinrich Schweiger (23 July 1931 – 14 July 2009) was an Austrian film and stage actor who played leading roles at the Burgtheater on the Ring beginning in 1949. Among the plays in which he starred were Schiller's ''Don Carlos'', Shakespeare's ...

Aglaja Schmid Aglaja Schmid (1926–2003) was an Austrian stage and film actress.Fritsche, p. 232. She was married to the theatre and film director Rudolf Steinboeck. Selected filmography * '' The Other Life'' (1948) * ''The Trial'' (1948) * '' Dreaming Days' ...

: Therese Grob *

Hans Thimig Hans Emil Thimig, pseudonym: Hans Werner (23 July 1900 in Vienna – 17 February 1991, also in Vienna) was an Austrian actor, film director, and stage director. Life The youngest son of the Burgtheater actor Hugo Thimig and Franziska "Fanny" H ...

: Father Schubert *

Karl Bosse Karl may refer to: People * Karl (given name), including a list of people and characters with the name * Karl der Große, commonly known in English as Charlemagne * Karl of Austria, last Austrian Emperor * Karl (footballer) (born 1993), Karl Cac ...

: Heinrich Grob *

Maria Eis Maria Eis (22 February 1896 – 18 December 1954) was an Austrian actress of stage and screen. Between 1918 and 1923, Eis performed on stage at the ''Neue Wiener Bühne'' (New Vienna stage), the ''Renaissancebühne'' (Renaissance stage) and th ...

: Madame Schechner *

Rolf Wanka Rolf Wanka (14 February 1901 – 30 November 1982) was an Austrian actor. Biography He was of Czech, German and French origin. His father was Dr. Josef Wanka was head physician in Vienna. His mother was Emma Pippich. His family owned a mans ...

: Franz Schober *

Louis Soldan Louis Soldan (19 March 1920 – 25 April 1971) was an Austrian actor. Biography Louis Soldan was the son of the shoe manufacturer Alois Soldan. After middle school, he trained as an actor at the Drama Seminar of ''Dr. Beer''. Soldan appear ...

: Moritz von Schwind * Michael Janisch: Bergmann *

Anni Korin Anni may refer to: People * The popular name of Mohamed Nasheed (born 1967), third president of the second republic of the Maldives * Anni Anwander, former West German slalom canoeist * Anni Daulter, American cookbook writer * Anni Dewani (1982� ...

: Netty *

Erwin Strahl Erwin Strahl (12 February 1929 – 20 April 2011) was an Austria Austria, formally the Republic of Austria, is a landlocked country in Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine Federal states of Austria, state ...

: Johann Mayerhofer * Karl Mittner: Ferdinand Schubert *

Fritz Hinz-Fabricius Fritz is a common German male name. The name originated as a German diminutive of Friedrich or Frederick (''Der Alte Fritz'', and ''Stary Fryc'' were common nicknames for King Frederick II of Prussia and Frederick III, German Emperor), as well a ...

: Court opera singer Vogl *

Richard Eybner Richard Eybner (3 March 1896 – 20 June 1986) was an Austrian actor at the theatre and in films. Selected filmography * ''Purpur und Waschblau'' (1931) - Kabinettsrat Traunstadt * '' Die große Liebe'' (1931) * '' When You're Young, the World B ...

: Secretary of the Court theatre *

Chariklia Baxevanos Chariklia Baxevanos (born 15 March 1936) is a Swiss actress. She appeared in more than sixty films since 1952. Selected filmography References External links * 1936 births Living people Swiss film actresses Swiss television actres ...

: Young girl *

Fritz Imhoff Fritz Imhoff, real name: Friedrich Arnold Heinrich Jeschke (January 6, 1891, Alsergrund February 24, 1961, Wieden) was an Austrian actor. He was a brother of the Wienerlied composer (18901962). Selected filmography * '' Daughter of the Re ...

: *

Senta Wengraf Senta Wengraf (10 May 1924 – 6 December 2020) was an Austrian film and television actress.Fritsche p.231 Selected filmography * '' Two Times Lotte'' (1950) * '' Voices of Spring'' (1952) * '' The Spendthrift'' (1953) * ''Franz Schubert'' (1953) ...

* Fred Hennings *

Otto Treßler Otto Treßler, also Otto Tressler, (13 April 1871 – 27 April 1965) was a German-Austrian stage and film actor. He appeared in more than 40 films between 1915 and 1962. He was born in Stuttgart, Germany and died in Vienna, Austria. He was a ...

Franz Pfaudler Franz Pfaudler (1893–1956) was an Austrian stage and film actor.Giesen p.200 Selected filmography * '' My Life for Maria Isabella'' (1935) * '' Renate in the Quartet'' (1939) * '' Der Postmeister'' (1940) * '' Heimkehr'' (1941) * '' Anuschka' ...

Alma Seidler Alma Seidler (1 June 1899 – 8 December 1977) was an Austrian actress. She was member of the Burgtheater for over 50 years. Biography Alma Seidler was born in Leoben, the daughter of Ernst Seidler von Feuchtenegg. The later Burgtheater dire ...

* Susanne Engelhart *

Karl Ehmann Karl Ehmann (13 August 1882 – 1 November 1967) was an Austrian stage and film actor whose career spanned both the silent and sound eras of the film industry. Career Born on 13 August 1882 in Vienna, Austria-Hungary, he became interested in ac ...

Marianne Gerzner Marianne () has been the national personification of the French Republic since the French Revolution, as a personification of liberty, equality, fraternity and reason, as well as a portrayal of the Goddess of Liberty. Marianne is displayed i ...

Franz Herterich Franz Herterich (3 October 1877 – 28 October 1966) was a German actor. He was born in Munich and died in Vienna. Partial filmography * '' The Eye of the Buddha'' (1919) * ''Der Traum im Walde'' (1919) – alter Diener * ''Todestreue'' (1919) * ...

Gisa Wurm Gisa Wurm (8 October 1885 – 10 August 1957) was an Austrian stage and film actress.Giesen p.208 Selected filmography * '' Grand Duchess Alexandra'' (1933) * ''Harvest'' (1936) * ''Mirror of Life'' (1938) * '' My Daughter Lives in Vienna'' (1940 ...

External links

References

{{Franz Schubert 1953 films 1950s biographical drama films Austrian biographical drama films 1950s German-language films Biographical films about musicians Films about classical music and musicians Films directed by Walter Kolm-Veltée Films shot in Vienna Films set in Vienna Films set in the 1810s Films set in the 1820s

Film A film, also known as a movie or motion picture, is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, emotions, or atmosphere through the use of moving images that are generally, sinc ...

Films about composers 1950s historical drama films Austrian historical drama films Films shot at Rosenhügel Studios German-language biographical drama films German-language historical drama films